Arkansas Voters Pass Constitutional Amendment Expanding Right to Bear Arms

USA Carry reports that Arkansas voters on Tuesday approved Issue 2, a constitutional amendment that extends the gun rights protections in the state constitution to cover ammunition and firearm accessories. The measure received 70% of the vote, according to the secretary of state's office.

Key points

• What it adds: The state constitution already protected the right to bear arms. Issue 2 widens that protection to include possessing and using ammunition and firearm accessories.
• New wording: The amendment describes the right to keep and bear arms as natural, fundamental and individual, and says it "shall not be infringed."
• Effective date: Issue 2 takes effect Jan. 1, along with Issue 1, which adds language barring noncitizens from voting in local and state elections and passed with 69%.
• Other measures: Issue 4, allowing up to $500 million in general obligation bonds for water, drainage, flood control, waste disposal and similar projects, took 56.4%. Issue 3, on local economic development districts, failed, with nearly 50.7% voting no.
• Competing views: Sponsors say the amendment is needed to strengthen protection of gun rights, while critics argue it would make gun safety rules harder to implement.

Quick take

USA Carry, which cites the Arkansas Advocate for the results and effective date, says the new language brings the Second Amendment's wording into the state constitution and defines the right as individual and fundamental in the text. The outlet says it will keep tracking Issue 2.

Read the full story at USA Carry.